An amusement park in the Netherlands draws young people seeking fun, as do such places in America. Some students on U.S. summer projects get jobs in similar places, where they explain the gospel to fellow employees.

Last summer, Campus Crusade for Christ sent hundreds of students into the workforce. They didn't graduate and get jobs in industry or business; rather they went on summer mission projects, where they got jobs to help defray the cost of college tuition. These young people were looking for more than tips and a tan—they wanted to change lives.

Some 14 locations across the country hosted summer projects, from the coast of California to the mountains of Missouri to the sandy beaches of Florida. College students lived together, studied the Bible and received practical, hands-on traning in how to tell others about Christ.

In many cases, practical application of the evangelism training took place on a summer job—a requirement for students on projects located in resort areas or beaches. Students worked at such places as hotels, fast-food restaurants, gift shops or amusement parts. Both on and off the job, students explaiined to co-workers and others how to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

"The experience really helps prepare them to meet the real world," says Steve Sellers, national director for the Campus Ministry, "with a maturity that is grounded in God's love and biblical truth."

Evangelistic outreaches are regularly planned during weekends and evenings, yet project participants continue to report to the workplace every day. Within this context, a summer job becomes a life lesson—a mission mindset transformed into a lifestyle.

Now that’s job experience. —Beth Adams and Erik Segalini

For more information on future summer projects, call 1-800-690-0911 or visit www.campuscrusadeforchrist.com.

Children in Latvia's public schools got a chance to see the JESUS film after Martins Vidzenieks found a "blank spot in Latvian history" regarding Jesus and Christianity.

After two generations under communism, Latvian schoolchildren—and even schoolteachers—know very little about Jesus. Two years ago, Martins Vidzenieks of Agape Latvia (Campus Crusade for Christ) set out to remedy that by showing the JESUS film to every fourth-, ninth- and 12th- grade student in this Baltic nation.

The church leaders who oversee religious activities in Latvia allowed the JESUS film in the schools, and even allow Agape Latvia to show the final portion of the film, which invites viewers to receive Christ.

Latvian schools are a study in contrast; both open and closed to the gospel. Teachers have great freedom to choose curriculum, including the JESUS film, but Latvian law makes it illegal to question anyone under 18 about their faith.

While Martins carefully operates within the law, he still finds ways to interact with students. For example, while Martins cannot ask students any questions, the law does not prevent him from answering their questions—and after watching the film, they ask a lot. "They are trying to nail me," says Martins, "asking, 'Why did Jesus have to die?' or, 'Why do you believe the Bible?' But I love their questions. It lets me share the gospel over and over."

By training teachers to show the film in their schools, Martins accumulated a core of volunteers who now show the JESUS film to almost 30,000 students annually, sharing the good news of Jesus, and giving each public-school student a clear opportunity to receive Christ.

Even though Martins cannot get an accurate count of how many children come to know Christ each year, teachers report that lives are changing.

In the village of Aluksme, near the Estonian border, a local teacher showed the film to a ninth-grade class. Two boys with a reputation for troublemaking sarcastically heckled throughout the first half of the showing. But during the second half they watched intently.

Since no one can question the boys about their faith, no one knows what happened in their hearts, but everyone sees what happened to their behavior. The entire school is talking about how both are now pleasant and excelling academically.

A teacher in Derbe reported a similar change. A young mischief-maker had watched the film. On the following Sunday, the teacher's daughter came home from church telling her mother that the boy had come to Sunday school and seemed different.

The lives of teachers, too, have been influenced. At one teacher training, a young teacher spoke up, saying, "I feel like a white sparrow [a Latvian idiom meaning she stuck out like a sore thumb]. I don't even believe in this God of yours." After the session, Martins asked if she would like to have a personal relationship with "this God," and she eagerly prayed for forgiveness.

With the names gleaned from these sessions, Martins formed the Latvian Christian Teachers Association, a lifeline for Christian teachers. "Sometimes they tell me they feel like Elijah in the Old Testament, that they are the only one," he says. Now Martins can show them a list of 700 fellow believers.

This fall, Agape Latvia plans to begin a full-time high-school ministry, allowing more time to answer questions from curious Latvian students, teachers and "white sparrows." Through tools like the JESUS film and through people like Martins, God is building a new legacy in Latvia. —Howard Hardegree

Chuck and Arlene Price believe in rolling up their sleeves and joining the battle.

As Chuck Price entered a makeshift warehouse, he shut the door on Moscow's slate-gray skyline and sub-zero temperatures. Inside, however, he faced a much gloomier situation.

The year was 1992. Members of Josh McDowell's first Operation Carelift team stared helplessly at an overwhelming, 120-ton mound of disorganized medical supplies, books and clothing piled in a haphazard heap. How would they get all these gifts, designated for needy Russian children, ready by the time trucks and volunteers arrived? With only 48 hours, the task seemed impossible.

At the time, Chuck was supervising directors of several large Campus Crusade ministries, including the Josh McDowell Ministry. Surveying the situation, Chuck accepted the immense task of organizing the shipment.

In order to meet the looming deadline, Chuck and a few volunteers worked in shifts day and night. Together, they sorted, packed and readied supplies for distribution. In two days, the job was done, allowing hope and humanitarian aid to go out in the name of Christ on schedule.

"It didn't matter who he was," says Lou Schnorr, assistant to Chuck. "Chuck was willing to serve."

Though many in his position may have seen the chore as a waste of valuable ministry time, Chuck did not. For him, this was ministry

"Ministering and leading involve living out your values," says the father of four, who today oversees all 60-plus of Campus Crusade's U.S.-based ministries. "It's an overflow of life. You can't lead from an ivory tower; you have to roll up your sleeves and join the battle."

Co-workers know Chuck's servant attitude flows from a passion for both the Great Commission and a commitment to caring for others.

"He cares about people—about their growth and development," says Wendy Hill, Campus Crusade's associate director of communications. "It's as much about what God wants to do in our lives as it is about having a ministry. For Chuck, the two are intertwined."

During that first winter in Moscow with Operation Carelift, Chuck applied this perspective, where he organized more than just a warehouse. The project was just beginning, and Josh McDowell, his staff team and 160 volunteers had their sights set on sharing Christ's love and helping hurting people.

But Chuck's desire to forge together ministry and personal development led him to propose a "conference within the mission." He created a specific plan to help Carelift volunteers deepen their faith while they ministered to others. "People are our greatest resource," Chuck says, "and God has charged [us] to be faithful stewards of the people He has entrusted to this ministry."

For 30 years Chuck has invested in the people of Campus Crusade for Christ, including 17 years with Military Ministry. Even during his days at Otterbein College in Ohio, Chuck was helping to build leaders who would change the world. While America swirled in the confusing haze of the late 1960s, Chuck lead a Bible study every night for a six-week period, regularly drawing crowds of 45 to 50 people. "We had made Christ an issue on our campus, and it was amazing," remembers Chuck. More than 100 Otterbein graduates went on to join Campus Crusade as full-time staff workers during Chuck's years as a student.

"From the beginning, we were committed to reaching the world for Christ, not just the campus," says Chuck. "That was instilled in me from the start, and I never lost that."

After 31 years of marriage, Chuck's wife says it comes down to one thing. "He doesn't view life as compartmentalized," Arlene explains. "Our whole life is ministry." —Rebecca Valentine

At the city hall in Durban, South Africa, people wait in one short line to obtain visas. To get a death certificate, however, they must choose one of nine long lines.
With 38 percent of the population currently infected with AIDS, the South African state of KwaZulu Natal, maintains the highest rate of AIDS infection on earth.
Marcia Ball and Jennie Cerullo, consultants with CrossRoads, a Campus Crusade for Christ ministry, recently trained almost 100 South African educators in an ethics, character-development and AIDS-prevention curriculum. "It almost brought me to tears," says Jennie. "They lose family or friends every day."
CrossRoads recognizes that a need can be an avenue for the gospel. Jesus answers even our deepest need, but that message is unheard in many cultures, and still taboo in others. Through the curriculum taught by Jennie and others, CrossRoads translates deep societal needs—like AIDS—into an opportunity to help hurting people in a professional way yet at the same time present the gospel.
And the world is dying to hear. —Howard Hardegree

For more information about CrossRoads call (407) 826-2493.


FamilyLife
Charlotte, N. C.

"This tastes like dog food," complained "Fred" about the meal his wife had prepared.
"Fine!" snapped "Tina." "Don't eat it!"
The next night, he looked up from his meal and asked, "What on earth is this?"
"Well, last night you said my meal tasted like dog food," she replied, "so tonight I just fed you dog food."
A friend knew Fred and Tina's marriage needed help, so he gave the couple free tickets to a FamilyLife weekend marriage conference.
That weekend, Fred recommitted his life to Christ. During the women's session, Tina slammed her book shut and rushed over to Fred in the men's session. "Take me home," she demanded. He did, then returned to the conference to learn more ways to improve his marriage.
Afterward, Fred began trying to love his wife as Christ loved the church—a biblical principle he'd learned during the weekend. Soon the couple began attending church and participated in a FamilyLife HomeBuilders Bible study. Eventually Tina, too, invited Jesus into her life. —Jennifer Abegg

To find out about a FamilyLife marriage conference near you, call 1-800-FL-TODAY or visit www.familylife.com.


Lake Hart
Orlando, Fla.

Stephanie stared down at the picture of Jesus hanging on the cross. "That is horrible," said the curly-haired five-year-old. "God died?"
Several staff members from Campus Crusade for Christ at Lake Hart had prayed for such an opportunity. As volunteers at the nearby YMCA after-school program, they had passed out gospel tracts and a children's version of the JESUS video.
But 5-year-old Taylor answered first. "Yeah, but wait. Turn the page!" said the freckle-faced boy. "He rose again!"
Taylor jumped up from his miniature chair and table. "They all turned the page and reacted together," says Kerry Jelinek, a member of the Lake Hart Guest Relations and Events team.
Every Friday afternoon for a year, Kerry and her fellow Campus Crusade staff members taught children from preschool through fifth grade, using Campus Crusade's Character Club material.
Passing out 120 videos and gospel tracts was merely follow-up to an earlier showing of the film. Approximately 60 children indicated decisions to invite Christ into their lives that afternoon.
"We are helping them to put the ‘C' back in YMCA," says Chris Randazzo, leader of the Guest Relations team. —Erik Segalini


Panorama
An overview of Campus Crusade for Christ